Rutgers is staring down a potentially brutal season in the Big Ten after losing starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis this offseason, a departure so significant he was literally the engine for their offense. Analyst Bjorn Bergstrom isn’t holding back, projecting a major step in the wrong direction for the Scarlet Knights this upcoming year, with some seriously grim implications.
Offensive Issues Just Piling Up
You can’t just lose your offensive engine and expect to cruise. Kaliakmanis’ departure means the Scarlet Knights aren’t projected to be good offensively, according to Bergstrom. Running back Antwan Raymond, who’s entering his second year as starter, is going to have to carry a *heavy* load, and let’s be real, that’s a tough ask. They’ve got Raymond and KJ Duff, two solid pieces on offense, but those two can’t plug every hole on this roster.
The Winless Conference Projection
Bergstrom’s take is absolutely wild, but he backs it up: “Given the loss of experienced quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, the Scarlet Knights don’t project to be very good offensively. Running back Antwan Raymond will have to carry a heavy load in his second season as the starter. Those issues, combined with a porous defense, mean a winless season in conference play could be on the table.” Winless in conference play? Seriously? Last year they were 5-7, one of the “better bottom teams” in the Big Ten. Now they’re competing with Purdue for the title of “worst team”? That’s a huge fall!
USC Looking For A Tune-Up Game
Look, Rutgers might have some special players who can pop off for individual highlight plays, but Bergstrom sees this team as a massive opportunity for top-tier squads. Teams like the USC Trojans? They need to take full advantage of this for their own seeding in the standings. USC gets Rutgers in Week 4, and honestly, that game sounds like the perfect tune-up. Why? Because right after that, they’ve got a game “with a lot at stake” against the Oregon Ducks. You know USC is going to be licking its chops.
For Rutgers, it’s about trying to defy that “winless in conference” projection, starting with that Week 4 clash against USC. For USC, that game is all about setting the tone before a huge showdown with Oregon. Don’t sleep on how critical this “breather” game is for the Trojans’ season outlook.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply